Float rod guide means



March 26, 1946. J, D, STGGS 2,397,383

FLOAT Ron GUIDE MEANS Filed Jan. 13, 1945 Patented Mar. 26, 19'46 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,397,383 FLOAT non GUIDE MEANS Jesse D. Staggs, Burbank, Calif.

Application January 13, 1945, Serial No. 572,729 y(Cl. lI.-.57*) I Claims.

This invention relates to a float rod guide means.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel means for use with'a float rod vto cause the rod to `move downwardly 'in a positive manner by effectively vreducing the friction which prevents the float from lowering. Y

In the usual constructions of float rods a lifting member provided with a loop is employed and this member, due to the manner in which it is held, acts to bind the float rod and prevent free movement of the latter vand it is an object of my invention to provide means which will overcome the difficulty mentioned.

A more specic object of the `invention is to provide a novel guide means for causing a float rod lifting member to be correctly positioned so that the float rod will be free to lower.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a float rod guide means which is integral n with the float rod guide member,

A further object of the invention is to provide a float rod guide means including a removable clip member which has guide means thereon.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a float rod guide means wherein the guide means is arranged on the lifting member.

Other objects and the advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a valve assembly and float rod and showing my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing a modification;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3, Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing a further modification.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, I have shown my invention as embodied in a float rod guide means which is indicated generally as at I0.

In the disclosure the construction includes a valve seat II which is adapted to be engaged by a flexible valve float I2 which has a float rod I3 thereon, the float rod I3 having a loop I4 on the upper end thereof. The float rod I3 passes through holes I3a in a oat rod guide member I5 which includes a collar I 6 arranged on an overflow pipe I'I. The construction of valve seat, float, valve rod and its support forms no part of the present construction. l

The float rod is adapted to be lifted by a 1ift ing member I'8 which is pivoted yat I9 to a rocking lever 20. Thelifting member includes ya horizontal portion 2| having a'loop22 which receives the float-rod I3. When the lever 20 is rocked the loop 22 engages the loop I4 to lift the rod I3 in the usualmenner.

In the usual construction the lifting member I8 is free to move laterally `and is forced in -t-he direction of the arrowA, Fig. `i, so that the `:loop

22 bears aga-inst the rod I3. The side force is caused by the weight ycfg-the lever-and lifting rod I8, To avoid this side thrust and remove friction from ythe'fIoat rod,V I'provide a guide means 23 which consists of an velongated member 24 which is shown Aas Lintegral with the guide member I5. -This `member `24 inclu-des 'an upper --portion 25 which is inclined from the vertical and which guides the loop 22, and when the latter is in its lowered position upon the guide member holds they loop 22 so that the side thrust A will not cause friction upon the rod I3.

In Figs. 2 and 3, I show a modication of my invention wherein similar parts are designated by single primed reference characters. In this modification, the guide means includes a clip 23 which includes a cylindrical portion 30 disposed about the cylindrical portion 3| on the oat guide I5. The member 30 includes an upwardly extending portion 25 similar to the portion 25 previously described. A clamping screw 32 passing through a wing 33 on the portion 3D and passing into a threaded hole 34 on a bent portion 35 of the portion 30 may be employed to hold the member 30 in place.

In Fig. 4 I show a further modification wherein similar parts are designated by double primed reference numerals. In the modification the lifting member I8 is provided with a loop 22" from which a depending portion 36 extends. The portion 36 has a bent end 31 and the portions 36 and 31 engage the float rod guide member I5" to correctly guide the float rod.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have invented a novel float rod guide means which can be economically manufactured and readily installed and which is highly efficient for its intended purpose.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A float rod guide apparatus including a re ciprocating float valve having a float rod thereon, a float rod guide member having a hole through which the float; rod extends, said iloat rod having a loop on the upper end thereof, a shiftable float rod ,lifting member, said lifting member having a loop disposed above the guide member and receiving the float rod and adapted to engage theV loop on the oat rod to lift the float rod, and guide means on one of said members and engaging the other member, the guide means including a free end portion inclined from the vertical, the guide means also including a vertical portion connected to the inclined portion and positioned to restrict lateral movement of the adapted 'to engage the loop on theV Iioat rod, to lift Y the float rod, and guide means on said oat rod guide member, said guide means projecting above -the guide member and positioned to engage the f float rod lifting member loop yto restrict lateral movement of the float rod lifting member when the latter is in its lowered position.

v3. A float rod guide apparatus including a reciprocating float valve havinga float rod thereon. a oat rod guide member having a hole through which'the iioat rod extends, said oat rod hav'-y ing a loop thereon, a shiftable float rod lifting member, said lifting member having a loop receiving the float rod and adapted to engage the loop on the oat rod to lift theoat rod, and va guide arm on said oat rod guide member and projecting upwardly therefrom, said arm including an inclined upper portion adapted to engage the float rod lifting member, said arm including a vertical portion below the upper portion, the vertical portion being parallel t0 and spaced from the float rod and being positioned to restrict lateral movement of the float rod lifting member when the latter moves to its lowered position.

4. A float rod guide apparatus including a re-k posed above the guide member, a shiftable float rod lifting member, said lifting member having a loop disposed above the guide receiving thefloat rod and adapted to engage the loop on the float rod to lift the iloat rod, and guide means on said float rod lifting member and engaging the float rod guide member to restrict lateral movement of the oat rod lifting member when the latter is in its lowered position. 1

5. A float rod guide vapparatus including a reciprocating float valve having a float rod thereon, a float rod guide member having a hole through which the float rod extends, saidlloat rod having a loop thereon, said loop being disposed above the guide member, a shiftable float rod lifting member, said lifting member having an integral loop disposed abovethe guide member and receiving the float rod and radapted to engage the loop on the oat rod to lift the float rod, and a depending portion on said lifting member below the loop thereon and disposed to engage the float rod guide member to restrict lateral movement of the iloat rod lifting member When-the latter is in its lowered position.

JEssE D YsTAGGs. Y 

